Customs

The invoice models

• The pro forma invoice: Invoice for goods not intended for sale (gifts, samples...). It has no accounting value.
• The commercial invoice : Invoice for goods intended for sale. It is an accounting document.

Invoices must be written in English, or optionally in French for Andorra, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

The sender

The following information must be printed on the invoices:

• Header of the sender company mandatory
• Name of the sender
• Full address of the sender
• SIRET NUMBER
• Intracommunity VAT number
• EORI NUMBER

The EORI number is used to identify economic operators in their relations with the customs authorities. The EORI registration is mandatory before any customs operation in a Member State. This number can be obtained upon request from the customs service: www.douane.gouv.fr

The consignee

The following information must be printed on the invoices:

• Name of the consignee
• Full address (No P.O. Box)
• Recipient contact
• Telephone number
• Consignee's VAT number or National Trade Register number

The goods

The following information must be printed on the invoices:

• Precise and complete description of the nature of the goods in English (exception: in French possible for Switzerland, Andorra, Liechtenstein)
• Mandatory customs nomenclature (see Chambers of Commerce)
• Quantity + unit value of each product. Each product making up the order must be quantified and valued
• Value of each product always before tax (also the total amount of the invoice)
• Origin of the goods in English (place where the goods were manufactured). If the goods are from the European Union, the mention of preferential origin* is required in order to reduce the duties and taxes upon arrival:
  • - In French: "The exporter (customs authorization no.) of the goods covered by this document declares that, unless clearly indicated otherwise, these goods have EU preferential origin: name of country, date, signature, name in capital letters."
  • - In English: "The exporter of the products covered by this document declares that, except where otherwise clearly indicated, these products are of UE preferential origin (Ex: Customs authorization n° 452 TROYES CRD) "
• Currency used (Euro €, US Dollar $...)
• Number of packages shipped + their weight (gross and net)
• Incoterm DAP or DDP (according to the eligible destinations)

Attention, some goods are prohibited:

• Medicines
• Chemical products and dangerous materials (aerosols...)
• Weapons
• Perishable goods (chocolate, food...)
• Goods containing alcohol (bottle, perfume...)

Your sales representative is at your disposal for any further information.